What kind of machine do you use?

I own two really wonderful machines, the Juki TL-2010Q and the Janome 4120QDC. I do most of my piecing and straight-line quilting on the Janome and use the Juki as my primary quilting machine.

2

Do you have a long-arm machine, or do you send your quilts to a long-arm quilter?

No. I quilt all of my quilts on my Juki TL-2010Q setup using a SewEzi Table. It’s a mid-arm machine designed for quilting. However, someday I would really love to own a long-arm quilting machine and frame.

What kind of needles do you use?

How do you press your seams?

I prefer to press my seams to one direction to maintain the strength and add depth in quilting.

5

What thread do you use?

I use Aurifil threads, 50wt in cream or white for piecing and 28-40wt for quilting in usually matching thread colors. See my Aurifil thread review.

6

Do you prewash your quilting fabric?

I used to pre-wash all of my quilting fabric, but stopped because my fabric was turning into a threaded bundle of mess. More importantly, I didn’t notice an appreciable difference between quilts I made with pre-washed fabric and quilts I made with fabric straight off the bolt. Your results may vary, but I’ve had positive experiences with good quality contemporary quilting fabrics and consider my decision not to pre-wash, a calculated risk that I’m willing to take. I do however wash all my quilts immediately after they have been photographed.Please note that this applies only to cotton and cotton/linen quilting fabric. I always prewash fabric for garments or quilt fabric like flannel that I know will shrink by an appreciable amount.

7

How do you prevent the die from bleeding when you wash the quilt for the first time?

I wash my quilts in cold water on gentle cycle ALWAYS with Shout Color Catchers and tumble dry them on low. I try to be very careful about moving wet quilts to the dryer as soon as the cycle is over. Leaving a wet quilt sitting in the washing machine is one of the easiest ways to cause color bleed.

8

How do you store your fabric?

I store my fabric folded on a covered shelving unit in my sewing room. I keep all my solids and prints separate, both organized by color.

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